Dead and neglected dogs found, fighting suspected
Bessemer City, NC (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
County: Gaston
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 4 files available
Alleged:
» Chavius Robert Floyd
» Anthony Devar Ross
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Two men are charged with animal cruelty after police found two dead dogs on their property and evidence of dog fighting.
Gaston County Police reportedly took Chavis Floyd, 18, a Bessemer City High School student, and Anthony Ross, 24, into custody.
Investigators said they found six dogs on the property off West Louisiana Avenue in Bessemer City, and one in the nearby woods. Two dogs were dead and animal control was forced to take a third pit bull to a veterinarian to be euthanized. The veterinarian tells WCNC the dog could not walk and survived by eating dirt.
Investigators say they heard dog fighting may have been going on in the area, but did not find enough evidence to charge anyone until now. Police happened upon the dogs while looking for a stolen motorcycle.
Floyd and Ross have not been charged with dog fighting because they were not caught in the act, but investigators said they found evidence to indicate fighting. They say the dogs have scars on their faces. Officers also found a pit bull in the woods where they believe the dog fighting was taking place.
Case UpdatesA veterinarian says one of the pit bulls found in a case of animal abuse probably hadn't had anything but dirt to eat in almost two months.
Dr. Robert Neunzig is the vet trying to care for dogs Gaston County police found at two Bessemer City homes Wednesday afternoon while searching for a stolen motorcycle.
One dog could barely stand up to get into the vet's office where they quickly determined the most humane thing to do was to put her to sleep.
"If you look at this, you literally see every rib in its body," Neunzig said while showing us the dog minutes before she was put to sleep. "Without question one of the worst cases of neglect and starvation that I have seen in quite awhile."
Police say another one of the dogs was already dead on the chain where it was kept.
"We found a clear spot where they're fighting the dogs, and what they do is stick poles in the ground and the dogs fight each other," said Gaston County Police Sgt. Sam Hersey.
Police charged Chavis Floyd and Anthony Ross with felony animal cruelty.
Neither face dog fighting charges because investigators say that's tough to prove.
"We need stronger laws. When people are caught doing things like this we need to truly hold their feet to the fire," Neunzig said. "These animals should not have to live and suffer and die like this."
Floyd and Ross will be in court on Thursday. Officers say the surviving dogs may be rescued or may have to be put down. | Source: WCNC - May 8, 2008
Update posted on Jun 20, 2008 - 2:06PM |
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